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Details

May 13, 20202:00-3:00PM

Legal Governance Challenges for Associations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

ASA Webinar

In addition to its effects on association planned in-person meetings and conferences, the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic has greatly impacted association governance. From canceled membership meetings to virtual board meetings to online elections to an inability to meet legally-imposed governance requirements, associations are struggling to find answers to a host of pressing governance questions.

The Ohio Society of Association Executives invites you to join a free webinar on May 13 at 2:00 p.m. EDT, hosted by Association Societies Alliance (ASA), to help you navigate these issues for your own association. Where you find these answers; what the practical and workable solutions are to these significant challenges; and what constitutes compliance with the law and your own governing documents will be among the many questions answered.

If our bylaws require an annual membership meeting and we have canceled our annual conference, can this requirement be waived?

If we can’t hold our annual membership meeting in person – to hold board elections or otherwise – can we hold it virtually? Alternatively, can members vote by email?

I heard New York’s governor recently signed an executive order to allow membership meetings for New York not-for-profit corporations to be held “remotely or by electronic means.” Have other states’ governors signed similar orders and are they necessary?

I heard some states’ nonprofit corporate statutes only allow more permissive electronic or virtual meeting structures if codified in your articles of incorporation. If that is not the case already, how can we make such a change?

What happens if we don’t follow a mandate or procedure dictated by state law or our own bylaws? What are the potential consequences?

I know that our board can meet by audio or videoconference with the same legal effect as an in-person meeting; however, can board members vote by proxy or by email ballot, particularly during the current pandemic?

Bonus: What is the potential liability to the association as we begin to return to some version of “business as usual” over the coming months and get back together for in-person meetings or events?

As membership and board governance issues are so critical to the healthy functioning of an association – and, as this is a very complex, nuanced area of the law, and one that varies from state to state – this is an important webinar that promises to offer real-time, practical advice and guidance, best practices, and suggestions for avoiding pitfalls.

The speaker during this webinar will be Jeffrey S. Tenenbaum, Esq., managing partner at Tenenbaum Law Group PLLC, headquartered in Washington, D.C. Tenenbaum is one of the nation's leading nonprofit attorneys, an accomplished author, lecturer and nonprofit legal matters commentator. As the managing partner of the Tenenbaum Law Group, he counsels his clients on the broad array of legal issues affecting trade and professional associations, charities and other nonprofits. For 19 years, Tenenbaum practiced law at the Venable LLP and chaired its nonprofit practice for most of that time. Among numerous other honors and awards, he was the 2006 recipient of the American Bar Association's (ABA) Outstanding Nonprofit Lawyer of the Year Award and one of only five lawyers in the prestigious U.S. Legal 500’s Not-for-Profit "Hall of Fame." Tenenbaum is the author of the ASAE-published book, Association Tax Compliance Guide, and currently serves as chair of the ABA's Trade and Professional Associations Subcommittee and on the ASAE Legal Advisory Council and Public Policy Committee.

2020-05-13 14:00:002020-05-13 15:00:00America/DetroitLegal Governance Challenges for Associations During the COVID-19 PandemicIn addition to its effects on association planned in-person meetings and conferences, the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic has greatly impacted association governance. From canceled membership meetings to virtual board meetings to online elections to an inability to meet legally-imposed governance requirements, associations are struggling to find answers to a host of pressing governance questions.
The Ohio Society of Association Executives invites you to join a free webinar on May 13 at 2:00 p.m. EDT, hosted by Association Societies Alliance (ASA), to help you navigate these issues for your own association. Where you find these answers; what the practical and workable solutions are to these significant challenges; and what constitutes compliance with the law and your own governing documents will be among the many questions answered.
Please select this link to register.
This webinar also will answer these questions:
If our bylaws require an annual membership meeting and we have canceled our annual conference, can this requirement be waived?
If we can’t hold our annual membership meeting in person – to hold board elections or otherwise – can we hold it virtually? Alternatively, can members vote by email?
I heard New York’s governor recently signed an executive order to allow membership meetings for New York not-for-profit corporations to be held “remotely or by electronic means.” Have other states’ governors signed similar orders and are they necessary?
I heard some states’ nonprofit corporate statutes only allow more permissive electronic or virtual meeting structures if codified in your articles of incorporation. If that is not the case already, how can we make such a change?
What happens if we don’t follow a mandate or procedure dictated by state law or our own bylaws? What are the potential consequences?
I know that our board can meet by audio or videoconference with the same legal effect as an in-person meeting; however, can board members vote by proxy or by email ballot, particularly during the current pandemic?
Bonus: What is the potential liability to the association as we begin to return to some version of “business as usual” over the coming months and get back together for in-person meetings or events?
As membership and board governance issues are so critical to the healthy functioning of an association – and, as this is a very complex, nuanced area of the law, and one that varies from state to state – this is an important webinar that promises to offer real-time, practical advice and guidance, best practices, and suggestions for avoiding pitfalls.
Please select this link to register.
The speaker during this webinar will be Jeffrey S. Tenenbaum, Esq., managing partner at Tenenbaum Law Group PLLC, headquartered in Washington, D.C. Tenenbaum is one of the nation's leading nonprofit attorneys, an accomplished author, lecturer and nonprofit legal matters commentator. As the managing partner of the Tenenbaum Law Group, he counsels his clients on the broad array of legal issues affecting trade and professional associations, charities and other nonprofits. For 19 years, Tenenbaum practiced law at the Venable LLP and chaired its nonprofit practice for most of that time. Among numerous other honors and awards, he was the 2006 recipient of the American Bar Association's (ABA) Outstanding Nonprofit Lawyer of the Year Award and one of only five lawyers in the prestigious U.S. Legal 500’s Not-for-Profit "Hall of Fame." Tenenbaum is the author of the ASAE-published book, Association Tax Compliance Guide, and currently serves as chair of the ABA's Trade and Professional Associations Subcommittee and on the ASAE Legal Advisory Council and Public Policy Committee.ASA Webinar